Our Bureau
New Delhi
After 25 days of an enthralling display of grit and determination and the fight by both India and England, the first ever Anderson Tendulkar Trophy ended in a draw with each side winning two matches each. Every game went to the wire, all but one match went to the last session of the last day and the one which didn’t turn out to be the decider of the series.
The game’s oldest format has left fans asking for more even after a lengthy series that lasted well over a month. The series has grown on to become one of the greatest series that Indian cricket or cricket in general has witnessed in recent times. As the series comes to end, let’s take a look at a few memorable clashes in the last decade and half that defined Test cricket.
India vs Australia, 2020-21
This was undoubtedly one of the biggest victories in the history of Indian Test Cricket. The way a very young Indian team scarred by numerous injuries to key players which sidelined them ended up defeating the mighty Australia 2-1 that too at their fortress in Gabba.
The line “Toota Hai Gabba Ka Ghamand” by Vijay Razdan was etched in the memory of cricket lovers all across the country. Going for a 36 all out in the first game at Adelaide to a three-wicket historic win at Gabba, Ajinkya Rahane-led a young Indian side to upset the Aussies in their own backyard.
India vs Sri Lanka, 2015
This series was in many ways the beginning of India’s run of dominance in Test cricket for the next few years to come under a new captain, Virat Kohli. Sri Lanka shocked India by 63 runs at Galle despite India’s giant lead of 192 runs. But then India channeled the never-say-die attitude that they were known for in Kohli’s era and won the next two games with big margins and took away the series.
India vs England 2021-22
The series that India came closest to winning a series in England ever since the 2007 tour. The series showcased classics with both teams budding heads. The historic win of the Indian cricket team at the fabled Lord’s was then retorted by the English side winning an innings and 76-run drubbing at Leeds.
India bounced back in the fourth test with a win at the Oval but the tour was suspended in September 2021 due to Indian team members testing positive for COVID. When the tour resumed India had the chance to win the series but England didn’t let that happen and the series ended in a draw.
